Dover Athletic 2 Wealdstone 4

THE spirits of long-suffering Dover fans were further depressed by an abject showing at the Hoverspeed Stadium on Saturday.

For an hour, Whites looked capable of winning a scrappy affair in their bid to at least stay in sight of safety from relegation in the Ryman League Premier Division.

But after nine minutes of second half mayhem, in which Wealdstone scored three times, Whites were looking battered.

The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play after just three minutes. Dover had forced three corners but as the third was repelled, midfielder Chris Cahill played a diagonal ball and striker Jermaine Beckford thumped a great shot into the top left hand corner.

Dover striker Paul Armstrong seized on a moment of defensive uncertainty, rounded keeper Andy Carter and drilled the ball home from a tight angle to restore parity after 15 minutes.

Whites had one great opportunity to take a lead into the break. As Matt Carruthers got in behind Stones' left flank, his perfect ball across the six yard line picked out the run of Victor Renner, whose low shot struck the base of the right hand upright.

In the second half Wealdstone took the lead after Whites were pressing strongly. Stuart Maynard lost possession, Stones turned defence into attack and Beckford made a solo run on goal.

Having left Lee Shearer trailing in his wake, Beckford fired in a shot that keeper DJ Zepharin did well to block, only to see Richard Jolly thumping home the loose ball.

Two minutes later the powerful Beckford turned smartly in the area, and drilled the ball low past Zepharin.

Wealdstone's fourth goal, which came after 79 minutes, was a calamity of Whites' own making as countless opportunities to clear the ball were spurned.

There was nothing hesitant about substitute Robin Tucker's finish, however, flicking the ball up with his first touch, then firing home a volley.

Whites pull a goal back in the final minute as Dean Palmer crossed from the right for substitute Craig Wilkins to score with his first touch.

Dover: Jean-Zepharin, Readings, Cloke, Palmer, Shearer, Maynard, Carruthers, Grime, Armstrong (Wilkins 89), Renner (Bubb 72), Sawyer, (Welford 72). Subs Not Used: Wright, P Rogers.